Friday 27 April 2012

Fabulous Flowers: A Springtime Nursery Rhyme


Lynn, Lynn, just can’t win,
when getting her to garden grow.
But with paper flowers
that don't need showers.
She'll chase away the snow.


It seems like forever ago that I was fighting off the early spring blues with paper pups and twisted critters. Now, almost a month later, we’re still bouncing back and forth between spots of sun and the threat of snow. Gosh, will the warm weather ever be here for good?!

As the old saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I’m still wearing a warm smile and finding little ways to let Mother Earth know I'm ready for spring. 

Paper flowers get a sophisticated twist with Klutz’s Fabulous Flowers. Bright colours, bold patterns and a little bit of sparkle make these faux florals hard to ignore! 


It's easy! Just punch out the pre-cut pieces and glue on the stems. Wrap, twist, or roll each colourful piece to give your flowers dimension. Then slide them on the stems and secure them in place with some glue. Before you know it, you'll have a beautiful bouquet that's sure to make Mom smile!


I've got another Mother's Day craft in mind for next week, so I've sprinkled my green garden with bright paper blooms. And, you know what? I think I can already feel the temperature rising!

Looking for more ways to make some fabulous flowers? Chicken Sock’s Paper Flowers is packed with bright, easy-to-assemble blooms for the ages four & up crowd. Or check out Fairies for an out-of-the-box way to use fake flowers to make tiny little petal people.

Friday 20 April 2012

My Write in White Doodle Journal Education

I won’t lie: doodling saved me from seventh grade history. (Just don’t tell my parents, okay?)

It’s not that I didn’t listen; I tried, I really did! But as my fingers traced the textbook to the tune of Mr C’s rumbly, monotone voice, my eyelids started to droop and my head began to nod, and I just didn’t think I would make it through.

Then one day, my friend Britney and I were commiserating about Mr. C’s class and discovered that we sat in the same seat, but two periods apart. So, we devised a plan to keep ourselves alert, and that’s how my doodle education began.

It started out simple enough, with little pictures or special messages in bubble letters, elaborately bordered pages or entire sheets of flowers. It didn’t matter what we drew, only that we kept our pencils busy. Then we’d slip them under the chair for the other person to find and answer back with an even more elaborate masterpiece. To this day, my eyes swim with pencil sketches when anyone mentions the War of 1812.

Basically, when it comes to doodles, I’ve seen it all. Or so I thought…

When Klutz came out with Write in White Doodle Journal, it changed everything! This book has got pretty patterns, swirling designs and inspiring quotes, all on a backdrop of dark and moody colours, so that when you put your white pen to page, your pictures really pop! 

Now I'm starting my degree in Write in White Doodling and hope to graduate with honours. But, boy do I have big shoes to fill, because check out what the masters at Klutz can do...

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Twirly Q-ties




Easter weekend has come and gone in a whirl of good food, family and lots and lots of chocolate. I was one busy gal all weekend, crafting up a storm of Easter goodies. With my Capsters all set to go, I was on the hunt for something sweet to deck our Easter table. Then I spotted that cute little bunny, on the right, in my fresh crop of Klutz books and knew I had found the answer.

Twirly Qs doesn’t come with much—just some corrugated cardboard strips, a shaping tool and super tacky glue—but that is all you need to make all sorts of colourful creations. Just roll the cardboard strips into tight little coils, give them some dimension with the handy shaping tool, then glue them all together for the most twirly, whirly, too-cute-to-resist cardboard creatures!

I chose these three little guys for their cute Easter colours, but with instructions for everything from a little brown mouse to some truly wacky little monsters, there is a Twirly Qtie for every occasion!